Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes scan lines disposed in a first direction; data lines disposed in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and unit pixel regions adjacent to the scan lines and the data lines, each unit pixel region including sub-pixels. A portion of an opening region of at least one of the sub-pixels overlaps a unit pixel region adjacent to a unit pixel region corresponding to the at least one of the sub-pixels, and a side of the opening region of the at least one of the sub-pixels extends in a third direction inclined with respect to each of the first direction and the second direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/009,370, filed Sep. 1, 2020 (now pending), the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/009,370 claims priority to and benefit of KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2020-0011083 under 35 U.S.C. § 119, filed onJan. 30, 2020 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a display device.

2. Description of the Related Art

As the information society develops, the demand for display devices fordisplaying images has increased and diversified. For example, displaydevices have been applied to various electronic devices such assmartphones, digital cameras, laptop computers, navigation devices, andsmart televisions.

The display device may be applied to a center information display (CID)disposed on an instrument board, a center fascia, or a dashboard of avehicle. In this case, external light may be reflected by the displaydevice to interfere with a driver's view. As an example, the displaydevice may include pixels as a minimum unit that may output light, andeach of the pixels may output light through an opening region. Forexample, external light may be reflected at the boundary of the openingregions of the pixels, which may interfere with the driver's view.

It is to be understood that this background of the technology sectionis, in part, intended to provide useful background for understanding thetechnology. However, this background of the technology section may alsoinclude ideas, concepts, or recognitions that were not part of what wasknown or appreciated by those skilled in the pertinent art prior to acorresponding effective filing date of the subject matter disclosedherein.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure provide a display device that may reduceexternal light reflected at a boundary of an opening region of each ofpixels.

However, aspects of the disclosure are not restricted to the ones setforth herein. The above and other aspects of the disclosure will becomemore apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to which thedisclosure pertains by referencing the detailed description of thedisclosure given below.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a display device that mayinclude scan lines disposed in a first direction; data lines disposed ina second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;and a plurality of unit pixel regions adjacent to the scan lines and thedata lines, each unit pixel region including a plurality of sub-pixels,wherein a portion of an opening region of at least one of the pluralityof sub-pixels may overlap a unit pixel region adjacent to a unit pixelregion corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of sub-pixels,and a side of the opening region of the at least one of the plurality ofsub-pixels may extend in a third direction inclined with respect to eachof the first direction and the second direction.

Each of the plurality of unit pixel regions may include first to thirdsub-pixels, and a first opening region of the first sub-pixel and asecond opening region of the second sub-pixel may be disposed at a sideof a third opening region of the third sub-pixel in the third direction.

The first opening region may be disposed at a side of the second openingregion in a fourth direction, and the fourth direction may besubstantially perpendicular to the third direction.

A portion of the third opening region may overlap a unit pixel regionadjacent to a side, in the first direction, of a unit pixel regioncorresponding to the third opening region, and another portion of thethird opening region may overlap a unit pixel region adjacent to a side,in the second direction, of the unit pixel region corresponding to thethird opening region.

Each of the plurality of unit pixel regions may include first to thirdsub-pixels, a first opening region of the first sub-pixel and a secondopening region of the second sub-pixel may be disposed at another sideof a third opening region of the third sub-pixel in a fourth direction,and the fourth direction may be substantially perpendicular to the thirddirection.

The plurality of unit pixel regions may include a first unit pixelregion and a second unit pixel region adjacent to a side of the firstunit pixel region in the first direction, a first opening region of thefirst unit pixel region may be disposed at a side of a second openingregion of the first unit pixel region in the third direction, and afirst opening region of the second unit pixel region may be disposed atanother side of a second opening region of the second unit pixel regionin the fourth direction.

The plurality of unit pixel regions may further include a third unitpixel region adjacent to a side of the first unit pixel region in thesecond direction, and a fourth unit pixel region adjacent to a side ofthe second unit pixel region in the second direction, a portion of thesecond opening region of the first unit pixel region may overlap thethird unit pixel region, and a portion of the first opening region ofthe second unit pixel region may overlap the fourth unit pixel region.

A portion of a third opening region of the third unit pixel region mayoverlap the first unit pixel region, and another portion of the thirdopening region of the third unit pixel region may overlap the fourthunit pixel region.

The display device may further include a first substrate on which theplurality of unit pixel regions may be disposed, and a second substratefacing the first substrate, wherein the plurality of unit pixel regionsmay include a first unit pixel region, and a second unit pixel regionadjacent to a side of the first unit pixel region in the firstdirection, the first unit pixel region may include first to thirdsub-pixels, and a first spacer disposed between the first substrate andthe second substrate, and the second unit pixel region may include firstto third sub-pixels, and a second spacer disposed between the firstsubstrate and the second substrate.

A first opening region of the first sub-pixel of the first unit pixelregion and a second opening region of the second sub-pixel of the firstunit pixel region may be disposed at another side of a third openingregion of the third sub-pixel in a fourth direction substantiallyperpendicular to the third direction, the first opening region of thefirst unit pixel region may be disposed at a side of the second openingregion in the third direction, and the first spacer may be disposedbetween the first opening region and the third opening region of thefirst unit pixel region.

A first opening region of the first sub-pixel of the second unit pixelregion and a second opening region of the second sub-pixel of the secondunit pixel region may be disposed at another side of a third openingregion of the third sub-pixel in a fourth direction substantiallyperpendicular to the third direction, the first opening region of thesecond unit pixel region may be disposed at another side of the secondopening region in the fourth direction, and the second spacer may bedisposed at a side of the second and third opening regions of the secondunit pixel region in the third direction.

The plurality of unit pixel regions may include a third unit pixelregion adjacent to a side of the first unit pixel region in the seconddirection, and a fourth unit pixel region adjacent to a side of thesecond unit pixel region in the second direction, a portion of a secondopening region of the second sub-pixel of the first unit pixel regionmay overlap the third unit pixel region, and a portion of a firstopening region of the first sub-pixel of the second unit pixel regionmay overlap the fourth unit pixel region.

A portion of a third opening region of a third sub-pixel of the thirdunit pixel region may overlap the first unit pixel region, and anotherportion of the third opening region of the third sub-pixel of the thirdunit pixel region may overlap the fourth unit pixel region.

The display device may further include a first substrate on which theplurality of unit pixel regions may be disposed, and a second substratefacing the first substrate, wherein the plurality of unit pixel regionsmay include a first unit pixel region, and a second unit pixel regionadjacent to a side of the first unit pixel region in the firstdirection, the first unit pixel region may include first to thirdsub-pixels, and first and second spacers disposed between the firstsubstrate and the second substrate, and the second unit pixel region mayinclude first to third sub-pixels, and third and fourth spacers disposedbetween the first substrate and the second substrate.

A first opening region of the first sub-pixel and a second openingregion of the second sub-pixel may be disposed at another side of athird opening region of the third sub-pixel in a fourth directionsubstantially perpendicular to the third direction, a first openingregion of the first unit pixel region may be disposed at a side of asecond opening region of the first unit pixel region in the thirddirection, and a first opening region of the second unit pixel regionmay be disposed at another side of a second opening region of the secondunit pixel region in the fourth direction.

The first spacer may be disposed at another side of the first openingregion of the first unit pixel region in the second direction and atanother side of the third opening region of the first unit pixel regionin the first direction, and wherein the second spacer may be disposed onone side of the second opening region of the first unit pixel region inthe first direction and at a side of the third opening region of thefirst unit pixel region in the second direction.

The third spacer may be disposed at another side of the second openingregion of the second unit pixel region in the second direction and atanother side of the third opening region of the second unit pixel regionin the first direction, and the fourth spacer may be disposed at a sideof the second opening region of the second unit pixel region in thefirst direction and at a side of the third opening region of the secondunit pixel region in the second direction.

A first opening region of the first unit pixel region may include acentral portion; a first protrusion protruding from the central portionto a side of the third direction; a second protrusion protruding fromthe central portion toward a third opening region; and a thirdprotrusion protruding from the central portion in a direction oppositeto the second protrusion.

A second opening region of the first unit pixel region may include: acentral portion; a first protrusion protruding from the central portionto another side of the third direction; a second protrusion protrudingfrom the central portion toward a third opening region; and a thirdprotrusion protruding from the central portion in a direction oppositeto the second protrusion.

A third opening region of the first unit pixel region may include acentral portion; a first protrusion protruding from the central portiontoward first and second opening regions; a second protrusion protrudingfrom the central portion to another side of the third direction; a thirdprotrusion protruding from the central portion in a direction oppositeto the first protrusion; and a fourth protrusion protruding from thecentral portion in a direction opposite to the second protrusion.

Each of the plurality of unit pixel regions may include first to thirdsub-pixels, a first opening region of the first sub-pixel and a secondopening region of the second sub-pixel may be disposed at a side of athird opening region of the third sub-pixel in a fourth directionsubstantially perpendicular to the third direction, and the thirdopening region may include a central portion, and a protrusionprotruding from a lower corner of the central portion to a side of thesecond direction.

The plurality of unit pixel regions may include a first unit pixelregion, and a second unit pixel region adjacent to a side of the firstunit pixel region in the first direction, an end of a protrusion of athird opening region of the first unit pixel region may face a secondopening region of the first unit pixel region, and another endsubstantially perpendicular to the end of the protrusion of the thirdopening region may face a first opening region of the second unit pixelregion.

The first unit pixel region may include a first spacer surrounded by thefirst opening region, the end of the protrusion of the third openingregion, and a left corner of the central portion of the third openingregion.

The second unit pixel region may include a second spacer surrounded by aright corner of the central portion of the third opening region of thefirst unit pixel region, another end of the protrusion of the thirdopening region of the first unit pixel region, the second opening regionof the second unit pixel region, and a left corner of the centralportion of the third opening region of the second unit pixel region.

The plurality of unit pixel regions may include a first unit pixelregion, and a second unit pixel region adjacent to a side of the firstunit pixel region in the first direction, each of the first and secondunit pixel regions may include first to third sub-pixels, a firstopening region of the first sub-pixel and a second opening region of thesecond sub-pixel may be disposed at another side of a third openingregion of the third sub-pixel in a fourth direction substantiallyperpendicular to the third direction, and the third opening region mayinclude an end extending from a center of gravity to a side of the thirddirection and another end extending from the center of gravity to a sideof the fourth direction.

The first and second opening regions of the first unit pixel region maybe disposed at another side in the fourth direction at an end of thethird opening region of the first unit pixel region, and the first andsecond opening regions of the second unit pixel region may be disposedat another side in the third direction at another end of the thirdopening region of the first unit pixel region.

The plurality of unit pixel regions may further include a third unitpixel region having first to third sub-pixels adjacent to a side of thefirst unit pixel region in the second direction, and the third unitpixel region may include a first spacer surrounded by the second andthird opening regions of the first unit pixel region, the first openingregion of the second unit pixel region, and the third opening region ofthe third unit pixel region.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a display device that mayinclude scan lines disposed in a first direction; data lines disposed ina second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;and a plurality of unit pixel regions adjacent to the scan lines and thedata lines, each unit pixel region including a plurality of sub-pixels,a portion of an opening region of at least one of the plurality ofsub-pixels may overlap a unit pixel region adjacent to a unit pixelregion corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of sub-pixels,and an extension direction of at least one side of the opening region ofeach of the plurality of sub-pixels may intersect all boundaries of theunit pixel region corresponding to the at least one of the plurality ofsub-pixels at an acute angle.

In the display device according to the embodiments, one side of theopening region of each of the sub-pixels and the scan line may crosseach other in a plan view. For example, one side of the opening regionof each of the sub-pixels may not be parallel to the scan line in a planview, and may not cross the scan line at a right angle in a plan view.In addition, a portion of at least one opening region of the openingregions of the sub-pixel may overlap the adjacent unit pixel regionbeyond the corresponding unit pixel region. Therefore, the displaydevice can maximize the aperture ratio of each of the sub-pixels whileminimizing the external light reflected at the boundary of the openingregion.

The effects of the disclosure are not limited to the aforementionedeffects, and various other effects are included in the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects and features of the disclosure will becomemore apparent by describing in detail embodiments thereof with referenceto the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a display device according toan embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the display deviceof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the display panel of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the display panel of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the unit pixel regions of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the unit pixel regions of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a display deviceaccording to an embodiment is applied to a vehicle; and

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a display deviceaccording to an embodiment is applied to a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Features and methods of accomplishing the same may be understood morereadily by reference to the following detailed description ofembodiments and the accompanying drawings. The disclosure may, however,be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as beinglimited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodimentsare provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete andwill fully convey the disclosure to those skilled in the art, and thedisclosure will be defined by the appended claims.

Some of the parts which are not associated with the description may notbe provided in order to describe embodiments of the disclosure and likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. Throughout the disclosure,the expression “at least one of a, b or c” indicates only a, only b,only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, all of a, b, and c, orvariations thereof.

The terms “and” and “or” may be used in the conjunctive or disjunctivesense and may be understood to be equivalent to “and/or.” In thespecification and the claims, the phrase “at least one of” is intendedto include the meaning of “at least one selected from the group of” forthe purpose of its meaning and interpretation. For example, “at leastone of A and B” may be understood to mean “A, B, or A and B.”

It will be understood that although the terms such as ‘first’ and‘second’ are used herein to describe various elements, these elementsshould not be limited by these terms. It will be understood thatalthough the terms such as ‘first’ and ‘second’ are used herein todescribe various elements, these elements should not be limited by theseterms. For example, a first element referred to as a first element inone embodiment may be referred to as a second element in anotherembodiment without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise.

It will be further understood that when the terms “comprises,”“comprising,” “includes” and/or “including”, “have” and/or “having” areused in this specification, they or it may specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of otherfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or anycombination thereof.

When a layer, film, region, substrate, or area, or element is referredto as being “on” another layer, film, region, substrate, or area, orelement, it may be directly on the other film, region, substrate, orarea, or element, or intervening films, regions, substrates, or areas,or elements may be present therebetween. Conversely, when a layer, film,region, substrate, or area, or element, is referred to as being“directly on” another layer, film, region, substrate, or area, orelement, intervening layers, films, regions, substrates, or areas, maybe absent therebetween. Further when a layer, film, region, substrate,or area, or element, is referred to as being “below” another layer,film, region, substrate, or area, or element, it may be directly belowthe other layer, film, region, substrate, or area, or element, orintervening layers, films, regions, substrates, or areas, or elements,may be present therebetween. Conversely, when a layer, film, region,substrate, or area, or element, is referred to as being “directly below”another layer, film, region, substrate, or area, or element, interveninglayers, films, regions, substrates, or areas, or elements may be absenttherebetween. Further, “over” or “on” may include positioning on orbelow an object and does not necessarily imply a direction based upongravity.

The spatially relative terms “below”, “beneath”, “lower”, “above”,“upper”, or the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe the relations between one element or component and anotherelement or component as illustrated in the drawings. It will beunderstood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of the device in use or operation, in addition tothe orientation depicted in the drawings. For example, in the case wherea device illustrated in the drawing is turned over, the devicepositioned “below” or “beneath” another device may be placed “above”another device. Accordingly, the illustrative term “below” may includeboth the lower and upper positions. The device may also be oriented inother directions and thus the spatially relative terms may beinterpreted differently depending on the orientations.

In the drawings, sizes and thicknesses of elements may be enlarged forbetter understanding, clarity, and ease of description thereof. However,the disclosure is not limited to the illustrated sizes and thicknesses.In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers, films, panels, regions, andother elements, may be exaggerated for clarity. In the drawings, forbetter understanding and ease of description, the thicknesses of somelayers and areas may be exaggerated.

Additionally, the terms “overlap” or “overlapped” mean that a firstobject may be above or below or to a side of a second object, and viceversa. Additionally, the term “overlap” may include layer, stack, faceor facing, extending over, covering or partly covering or any othersuitable term as would be appreciated and understood by those ofordinary skill in the art. The terms “face” and “facing” mean that afirst element may directly or indirectly oppose a second element. In acase in which a third element intervenes between the first and secondelement, the first and second element may be understood as beingindirectly opposed to one another, although still facing each other.When an element is described as ‘not overlapping’ or ‘to not overlap’another element, this may include that the elements are spaced apartfrom each other, offset from each other, or set aside from each other orany other suitable term as would be appreciated and understood by thoseof ordinary skill in the art.

Further, in the specification, the phrase “in a plan view” means when anobject portion is viewed from above, and the phrase “in a schematiccross-sectional view” means when a schematic cross-section taken byvertically cutting an object portion is viewed from the side.

It will be understood that when a layer, region, or component isreferred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another layer, region,or component, it may be “directly connected” or “directly coupled” tothe other layer, region, or component and/or may be “indirectlyconnected” or “indirectly coupled” to the other layer, region, orcomponent with other layers, regions, or components interposedtherebetween. For example, it will be understood that when a layer,region, or component is referred to as being “electrically connected” or“electrically coupled” to another layer, region, or component, it may be“directly electrically connected” or “directly electrically coupled” tothe other layer, region, or component and may be “indirectlyelectrically connected” or “indirectly electrically coupled” to theother layer, region, or component with other layers, regions, orcomponents interposed therebetween.

Also, when an element is referred to as being “in contact” or“contacted” or the like to another element, the element may be in“electrical contact” or in “physical contact” with another element; orin “indirect contact” or in “direct contact” with another element.

“About” or “approximately” as used herein is inclusive of the statedvalue and means within an acceptable range of deviation for theparticular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art,considering the measurement in question and the error associated withmeasurement of the particular quantity (i.e., the limitations of themeasurement system). For example, “about” may mean within one or morestandard deviations, or within ±30%, 20%, 10%, 5% of the stated value.

In the following examples, the x-axis, the y-axis and the z-axis are notlimited to three axes of the rectangular coordinate system, and may beinterpreted in a broader sense. For example, the x-axis, the y-axis, andthe z-axis may be perpendicular to one another, or may representdifferent directions that may not be perpendicular to one another.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments pertain. In addition,it will be further understood that terms, such as those defined incommonly-used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaningthat is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant artand will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal senseunless expressly so defined herein.

Embodiments will hereinafter be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a display device according toan embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating thedisplay device of FIG. 1.

The terms “above,” “top” and “upper surface” as used herein refer to anupward direction (i.e., a Z-axis direction) with respect to the displaydevice. The terms “below,” “bottom” and “lower surface” as used hereinrefer to a downward direction (i.e., a direction opposite to the Z-axisdirection) with respect to the display device. Further, “left”, “right”,“upper” and “lower” indicate directions when the display device isviewed from above. For example, “left” refers to a direction opposite toan X-axis direction, “right” refers to the X-axis direction, “upper”refers to a Y-axis direction, and “lower” refers to a direction oppositeto the Y-axis direction.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a display device 10 is a device that maydisplay a moving image or a still image. The display device may be usedas a display screen of various products such as televisions, laptopcomputers, monitors, billboards and the Internet of Things (IOT) as wellas portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, smart phones,tablet personal computers (tablet PCs), smart watches, watch phones,mobile communication terminals, electronic notebooks, electronic books,portable multimedia players (PMPs), navigation systems and ultra mobilePCs (UMPCs). However, the disclosure is not limited thereto and otherproducts are within the spirit and the scope of the disclosure.

The display device 10 may have a substantially rectangular shape in aplan view. For example, the display device 10 may have a substantiallyrectangular shape in a plan view, having short sides in a firstdirection (X-axis direction) and long sides in a second direction(Y-axis direction). A corner where the short side in the first direction(X-axis direction) and the long side in the second direction (Y-axisdirection) meet may be right-angled or rounded with a predeterminedcurvature. The planar shape of the display device 10 is not limited to asubstantially rectangular shape, and may be formed in othersubstantially polygonal shapes such as a circular shape or ellipticalshape. The display device 10 may be formed to be flat, but is notlimited thereto. For example, the display device 10 may be formed to bebent with a predetermined curvature.

The display device 10 may include a cover window 100, a touch sensingdevice 200, a display panel 300, a panel bottom member 400, and a bottomcover 800.

The cover window 100 may be disposed above the display panel 300 tocover or overlap the top surface of the display panel 300. The coverwindow 100 may protect the top surface of the display panel 300. Forexample, the cover window 100 may be attached to the touch sensingdevice 200 through an adhesive member. The adhesive member may be anoptically clear adhesive (OCA) or an optically clear resin (OCR).

The cover window 100 may include a transmission part which may displayan image of the display panel 300, and a light blocking part which maycorrespond to a region other than the transmission part. The lightblocking part of the cover window 100 may be formed to be opaque suchthat unnecessary components other than an image of the display panel 300may not be viewed by a user. Alternatively, the light blocking part ofthe cover window 100 may be formed as a decorative layer having apattern that may be shown to the user in a case that an image is notdisplayed. For example, the light blocking part of the cover window 100may include a company's logo or a pattern of various characters.

For example, the cover window 100 may be made of glass, sapphire, orplastic, but is not necessarily limited thereto. The cover window 100may be rigid or flexible.

The touch sensing device 200 may be disposed between the cover window100 and the display panel 300. The touch sensing device 200 may detectthe user's touch position and may be implemented as an infrared type ora capacitance type such as a self-capacitance type or a mutualcapacitance type.

The touch sensing device 200 may be disposed on an upper substrate ofthe display panel 300. Alternatively, the touch sensing device 200 maybe formed integrally with the display panel 300. In this case, the uppersubstrate of the display panel 300 may be omitted, and the touch sensingdevice 200 may be formed on an encapsulation layer of the display panel300. For example, the touch sensing device 200 may include a pressuresensor that may sense the user's pressure.

For example, the display device 10 may include a polarizing film (notshown) disposed on the touch sensing device 200 in order to prevent adecrease in visibility of the image displayed by the display panel 300due to external light reflected by the layers of the touch sensingdevice 200 or the layers of the display panel 300.

The touch sensing device 200 may include a touch circuit board 210 and atouch driver 220.

The touch circuit board 210 may be disposed at a side of the touchsensing device 200. For example, the touch circuit board 210 may beattached onto pads provided or disposed at a side of the touch sensingdevice 200 using an anisotropic conductive film. The touch circuit board210 may include a touch connection terminal, and the touch connectionterminal may be electrically connected to a connector of the displaycircuit board 310. The touch circuit board 210 may be a flexible printedcircuit board or a chip on film.

The touch driver 220 may apply touch driving signals to the touchsensing device 200, receive sensing signals from the touch sensingdevice 200, and analyze the sensing signals to calculate the user'stouch position. The touch driver 220 may be formed as an integratedcircuit and mounted on the touch circuit board 210.

The display panel 300 may include a display circuit board 310 and adisplay driver 320.

The display circuit board 310 may be attached to a side of the displaypanel 300. For example, one end of the display circuit board 310 may beattached onto pads provided or disposed at a side of the display panel300 using an anisotropic conductive film. The other end of the displaycircuit board 310 may be attached on the bottom surface of the panelbottom member 400 using an adhesive member. The touch circuit board 210and the display circuit board 310 may be flexible printed circuitboards, and may be bent from the top to the bottom of the display panel300. The display circuit board 310 may be electrically connected to atouch connection terminal of the touch circuit board 210 through aconnector.

The display driver 320 may supply signals and voltages that may drivethe display panel 300 through the display circuit board 310. Forexample, the display driver 320 may receive digital video data andtiming signals from the outside, convert the digital video data intoanalog positive/negative data voltages, and supply them to data linesthrough the pads. The display driver 320 may supply a scan controlsignal that may control the scan driver through scan control lines. Thedisplay driver 320 may supply source voltages necessary for drivingsub-pixels of the display panel 300 to the pads.

The display driver 320 may be formed as an integrated circuit andmounted on the display circuit board 310, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto. For example, the display driver 320 may be attached toa side of the display panel 300.

The panel bottom member 400 may be disposed on a bottom surface of thedisplay panel 300. For example, the panel bottom member 400 may includeat least one of a heat dissipation layer that may efficiently dissipateheat of the display panel 300, an electromagnetic shielding layer thatmay shield electromagnetic waves, a light blocking layer that may blocklight incident from the outside, or a cushion layer that may absorbshock from the outside.

The bottom cover 800 may be disposed below the panel bottom member 400.The bottom cover 800 may form an external appearance of a bottom surfaceof the display device 10. The bottom cover 800 may be formed in asubstantially bowl shape to accommodate the display panel 300. Thesidewalls of the bottom cover 800 may be in contact with edges of thecover window 100. In this case, the sidewalls of the bottom cover 800may be bonded to the edges of the cover window 100 through an adhesivemember.

The bottom cover 800 may be fastened to the panel bottom member 400through a fixing member such as a screw or attached to the panel bottommember 400 through an adhesive member such as an adhesive or an adhesivetape. The bottom cover 800 may include plastic and/or metal. The bottomcover 800 may include stainless steel (SUS) or aluminum (Al) to increasea heat dissipation effect.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the display panel of FIG. 2. FIG. 4is a block diagram illustrating the display panel of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the display panel 300 may include a displayarea DA in which sub-pixels SP may be formed or disposed to display animage, and a non-display area NDA which may be a peripheral area of thedisplay area DA. The display area DA may include the sub-pixels SP, scanlines SL electrically connected to the sub-pixels SP, emission controllines EML, data lines DL, and voltage supply lines VL. The scan lines SLand the emission control lines EML may be formed in parallel in thefirst direction (X-axis direction). The data lines DL and the voltagesupply lines VL may be formed in parallel in the second direction(Y-axis direction) crossing or intersecting the first direction (X-axisdirection). The first direction may be substantially perpendicular tothe second direction.

Each of the sub-pixels SP may be electrically connected to at least oneof the scan lines SL, at least one of the data lines DL, at least one ofthe emission control lines EML, and at least one of the voltage supplylines VL. In FIG. 3, each of the sub-pixels SP may be electricallyconnected to two scan lines SL, one data line DL, one emission controlline EML, and one voltage supply line VL, but the disclosure is notlimited thereto. In an example, each of the sub-pixels SP may beelectrically connected to three scan lines SL.

Each of the sub-pixels SP may include a driving transistor, at least oneswitching transistor, a light emitting element, and at least onecapacitor. The switching transistor may be turned on when a scan signalis applied from the scan line SL, and thus a data voltage of the dataline DL may be applied to a gate electrode of the driving transistor.The driving transistor may supply a driving current to the lightemitting element according to the data voltage applied to the gateelectrode, and the light emitting element may emit light having apredetermined luminance according to the magnitude of the drivingcurrent. The driving transistor and at least one switching transistormay be thin film transistors. The light emitting element may be anorganic light emitting diode including a first electrode, an organiclight emitting layer and a second electrode. The capacitor may maintainthe data voltage applied to the gate electrode of the driving transistorconstant.

The non-display area NDA may be defined as an area from the outside ofthe display area DA to edges of the display panel 300. The non-displayarea NDA may include a scan driver 510 that may apply scan signals tothe scan lines SL, an emission control driver 520 that may applyemission signals to the emission control lines EML, fan-out lines FLbetween the data lines DL and pads DP, and the pads DP electricallyconnected to the display driver 320. For example, the pads DP may bedisposed at a side edge of the display panel 300.

The display panel 300 may include the scan driver 510 and the emissioncontrol driver 520.

The scan driver 510 may generate scan signals based on a scan controlsignal SCS and sequentially output the scan signals to the scan linesSL. The emission control driver 520 may generate emission signalsaccording to an emission control signal ECS, and sequentially output theemission signals to the emission control lines EML.

Each of the scan driver 510 and the emission control driver 520 mayinclude thin film transistors. The scan driver 510 and the emissioncontrol driver 520 may be formed or disposed on the same layer as thethin film transistors of the sub-pixels SP. In FIG. 3, the scan driver510 may be disposed on a left side of the non-display area NDA, and theemission control driver 520 may be disposed on a right side of thenon-display area NDA, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In FIG. 4, the display driver 320 may include a timing controller 321, adata driver 322, and a power supply unit 323.

The timing controller 321 may receive digital video data DATA and timingsignals from the display circuit board 310. The timing controller 321may generate a data control signal DCS that may control an operationtiming of the data driver 322 based on the timing signals, generate ascan control signal SCS that may control an operation timing of the scandriver 510, and generate an emission control signal ECS that may controlan operation timing of the emission control driver 520. The timingcontroller 321 may supply the digital video data DATA and the datacontrol signal DCS to the data driver 322. The timing controller 321 maysupply the scan control signal SCS to the scan driver 510 through firstscan control lines SCL1, and supply the emission control signal ECS tothe emission control driver 520 through the second scan control linesSCL2.

The data driver 322 may convert the digital video data DATA into analogpositive/negative data voltages and supply them to the data lines DLthrough the fan-out lines FL. The scan signals of the scan driver 510may select the sub-pixels SP to be supplied with the data voltages, andthe data driver 322 may supply data voltages to the selected sub-pixelsSP.

The power supply unit 323 may generate a first driving voltage andsupply the first driving voltage to the voltage supply line VL. Thepower supply unit 323 may generate a second driving voltage and supplythe second driving voltage to a cathode electrode of the light emittingelement of each of the sub-pixels SP. Here, the first driving voltagemay be a high potential voltage that may drive the light emittingelement, and the second driving voltage may be a low potential voltagethat may drive the light emitting element. For example, the firstdriving voltage may have a potential that may be higher than thepotential of the second driving voltage.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the display area DA of the display panel 300 mayinclude unit pixel regions. For example, the unit pixel regions mayinclude a first-first unit pixel region UP11 to a fourth-fourth unitpixel region UP44 disposed in four rows and four columns. The displayarea DA may include more unit pixel regions as the resolution of thedisplay device 10 increases. Accordingly, the display area DA mayinclude unit pixel regions disposed in p rows and q columns (p and q arenatural numbers) according to the resolution of the display device 10.

Each of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 to the fourth-fourth unitpixel region UP44 may include sub-pixels displaying different colors.The sub-pixels may be provided by or disposed at intersections of n datalines DL (n is a natural number) and m scan lines SL (m is a naturalnumber). One unit pixel region may accommodate a pixel circuit of eachof the sub-pixels. The pixel circuit may include a driving transistor,at least one switching transistor, and at least one capacitor to drive alight emitting element of each of the sub-pixels.

For example, one unit pixel region may include a red sub-pixel, a greensub-pixel, and a blue sub-pixel. Each of the red sub-pixel, the greensub-pixel, and the blue sub-pixel may receive a data signal includinggradation information of red, green, or blue light from the data driver322 and output light of a corresponding color.

Each of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 to the fourth-fourth unitpixel region UP44 may include first to third sub-pixels. For example,the first sub-pixel may be a red sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel may bea green sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel may be a blue sub-pixel, butthe disclosure is not limited thereto.

The first sub-pixel may include a first opening region OR, the secondsub-pixel may include a second opening region OG, and the thirdsub-pixel may include a third opening region OB. The first to thirdopening regions OR, OG and OB may be defined by a pixel defining layer.A light emitting layer of each of the first to third sub-pixels may bedisposed in each of the first to third opening regions OR, OG and OB toemit light of a specific wavelength band. The size of each of the firstto third opening regions OR, OG and OB may be adjusted to realize whitelight by mixing light emitted from each of light emitting layers. Thefirst to third sub-pixels may have opening regions of different sizes torealize white light. For example, the size of the third opening regionOB may be larger than that of the first or second opening region OR orOG, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

The first opening region OR and the second opening region OG of each ofthe first-first unit pixel region UP11 to the fourth-fourth unit pixelregion UP44 may be disposed side by side on the upper left side of thethird opening region OB. The first opening region OR may be disposed onthe upper right side of the second opening region OG. For example, thefirst opening region OR may overlap the corresponding unit pixel regionto output red light.

A portion of the second opening region OG may overlap the correspondingunit pixel region, and the other portion of the second opening area OGmay overlap the unit pixel region adjacent to the left side of thecorresponding unit pixel region to output green light. For example, thepixel circuit of the second sub-pixel of the first-second unit pixelregion UP12 and a portion of the second opening region OG may bedisposed in the first-second unit pixel region UP12, and the otherportion of the second opening region OG may overlap the first-first unitpixel region UP11.

A portion of the third opening region OB may overlap the correspondingunit pixel region, another portion of the third opening region OB mayoverlap the unit pixel region adjacent to the right side of thecorresponding unit pixel region, and the remaining portion of the thirdopening region OB may overlap the unit pixel region adjacent to thelower side of the corresponding unit pixel region to output blue light.For example, the pixel circuit of the third sub-pixel of the first-firstunit pixel region UP11 and a portion of the third opening region OB maybe disposed in the first-first unit pixel region UP11, another portionof the third opening region OB may be overlap the first-second unitpixel region UP12, and the remaining portion of the third opening regionOB may overlap the second-first unit pixel region UP21.

As described above, a portion of the opening region of at least onesub-pixel of the first to third sub-pixels may overlap the unit pixelregion adjacent to the corresponding unit pixel region. A portion of atleast one opening region of the opening regions OR, OG and OB of thesub-pixel may overlap the adjacent unit pixel region beyond thecorresponding unit pixel region. Therefore, the display device 10 mayimprove the image quality of the display device 10 by maximizing anaperture ratio of the unit pixel region.

The first and second opening regions OR and OG may be disposed betweenextension lines of both sides of the third opening region OB. Forexample, the first and second opening regions OR and OG may be disposedside by side between the extension lines of the lower left side and theupper right side of the third opening region OB. The long sides of eachof the first and second opening regions OR and OG may be parallel to theextension lines of the lower left side and the upper right side of thethird opening region OB. One side of the third opening region OB mayface the short sides of each of the first and second opening regions ORand OG.

For example, the third opening region OB may have a substantially squareshape, and the first and second opening regions OR and OG may have asubstantially rectangular shape substantially smaller than the thirdopening region OB, but they are not necessarily limited thereto.

A distance Lr between the center of gravity of the first opening regionOR of the third-first unit pixel region UP31 and the center of gravityof the first opening region OR of the third-second unit pixel regionUP32 may be substantially equal to a distance Lr between the center ofgravity of the first opening region OR of the third-first unit pixelregion UP31 and the center of gravity of the first opening region OR ofthe fourth-first unit pixel region UP41 (Lr=Lr). A distance Lr betweenthe center of gravity of the first opening region OR of the third-firstunit pixel region UP31 and the center of gravity of the first openingregion OR of the third-second unit pixel region UP32 may besubstantially equal to a distance Lr between the center of gravity ofthe first opening region OR of the third-second unit pixel region UP32and the center of gravity of the first opening region OR of thefourth-second unit pixel region UP42 (Lr=Lr). Accordingly, the firstopening regions OR of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 to thefourth-fourth unit pixel region UP44 may be disposed at uniformintervals, thereby achieving uniform image quality.

A distance Lg between the center of gravity of the second opening regionOG of the third-third unit pixel region UP33 and the center of gravityof the second opening region OG of the third-fourth unit pixel regionUP34 may be substantially equal to a distance Lg between the center ofgravity of the second opening region OG of the third-third unit pixelregion UP33 and the center of gravity of the second opening region OG ofthe fourth-third unit pixel region UP43 (Lg=Lg). Accordingly, the secondopening regions OG of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 to thefourth-fourth unit pixel region UP44 may be disposed at uniformintervals, thereby achieving uniform image quality.

A distance Lb between the center of gravity of the third opening regionOB of the first-third unit pixel region UP13 and the center of gravityof the third opening region OB of the first-fourth unit pixel regionUP14 may be substantially equal to a distance Lb between the center ofgravity of the third opening region OB of the first-third unit pixelregion UP13 and the center of gravity of the third opening region OB ofthe second-third unit pixel region UP23 (Lb=Lb). Accordingly, the thirdopening regions OB of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 to thefourth-fourth unit pixel region UP44 may be disposed at uniformintervals, thereby achieving uniform image quality.

One side of the opening region OR, OG, OB of at least one sub-pixel ofthe first to third sub-pixels may cross or intersect the scan line SL ata predetermined angle. The first opening region OR and the scan line SLmay cross or intersect each other at a first angle θ1 (not horizontal orvertical), the second opening region OG and the scan line SL may crossor intersect each other at a second angle θ2, and the third openingregion OB and the scan line SL may cross or intersect each other at athird angle θ3. For example, an on-plane angle (for example, θ1, θ2 orθ3) between one side of at least one opening region of the first tothird opening regions OR, OG and OB and the scan line SL may be about 45degrees. The long sides and the short sides of the first opening regionOR and the second opening region OG may cross or intersect the scan lineSL at an angle of about 45 degrees, and one side of the third openingregion OB may cross or intersect the scan line SL at an angle of about45 degrees.

As described above, one side of the opening region OR, OG, OB of each ofthe sub-pixels and the scan line SL may cross or intersect each other ina plan view. For example, one side of the opening region OR, OG, OB ofeach of the sub-pixels may not be parallel to the scan line SL in a planview, and may not cross or intersect the scan line SL at a right anglein a plan view. Thus, the display device 10 may minimize external lightreflected at the boundary of the opening regions OR, OG and OB (forexample, between the pixel defining layer and the opening region).

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment. The unit pixel regions of FIG. 6 maybe different from the unit pixel regions of FIG. 5 in the arrangement ofthe first to third opening regions OR, OG and OB. The same configurationas the above-described configuration will be briefly described oromitted.

Referring to FIG. 6, the first opening region OR1, OR2 and the secondopening region OG1, OG2 of each of the first-first unit pixel regionUP11 to the fourth-fourth unit pixel region UP44 may be disposed side byside on the lower left side of the third opening region OB1, OB2. Thefirst opening region OR1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 maybe disposed on the upper left side of the second opening region OG1 ofthe first-first unit pixel region UP11, and the first opening region OR2of the first-second unit pixel region UP12 may be disposed on the lowerleft side of the second opening region OG2 of the first-second unitpixel region UP12. The first to third opening regions OR, OG and OB maybe regularly arranged by grouping two adjacent unit pixel regions intoone group.

The first opening region OR1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11may be disposed in the first-first unit pixel region UP11 to output redlight. The pixel circuit of the first sub-pixel of the first-second unitpixel region UP12 and a portion of the first opening region OR2 may bedisposed in the first-second unit pixel region UP12, and the otherportion of the first opening region OR2 may overlap the second-secondunit pixel region UP22.

The pixel circuit of the second sub-pixel of the first-first unit pixelregion UP11 and a portion of the second opening region OG1 may bedisposed in the first-first unit pixel region UP11, and the otherportion of the second opening region OG1 may overlap the second-firstunit pixel region UP21. The second opening region OG2 of thefirst-second unit pixel region UP12 may be disposed in the first-secondunit pixel region UP12 to output green light.

The pixel circuit of the third sub-pixel of the second-first unit pixelregion UP21 and a portion of the third opening region OB may be disposedin the second-first unit pixel region UP21, another portion of the thirdopening region OB may overlap the first-first unit pixel region UP11,and the remaining portion of the third opening region OB may overlap thesecond-second unit pixel region UP22.

As described above, a portion of the opening region of at least onesub-pixel of the first to third sub-pixels may overlap the unit pixelregion adjacent to the corresponding unit pixel region. A portion of atleast one opening region of the opening regions OR, OG and OB of thesub-pixel may overlap the adjacent unit pixel region beyond thecorresponding unit pixel region. Therefore, the display device 10 mayimprove the image quality of the display device 10 by maximizing anaperture ratio of the unit pixel region.

The first and second opening regions OR1 and OG1 of the first-first unitpixel region UP11 may be disposed between extension lines of both sidesof the third opening region OB1. For example, the first and secondopening regions OR1 and OG1 may be disposed side by side between theextension lines of the upper left side and the lower right side of thethird opening region OB1. The long sides of each of the first and secondopening regions OR1 and OG1 may be parallel to the extension lines ofthe upper left side and the lower right side of the third opening regionOB1. One side of the third opening region OB1 may face the short sidesof each of the first and second opening regions OR1 and OG1.

The first and second opening regions OR2 and OG2 of the first-secondunit pixel region UP12 may be disposed between extension lines of bothsides of the third opening region OB2. For example, the first and secondopening regions OR2 and OG2 may be disposed side by side between theextension lines of the upper left side and the lower right side of thethird opening region OB2. The long sides of each of the first and secondopening regions OR1 and OG1 may be parallel to the extension lines ofthe lower left side and the upper right side of the third opening regionOB1.

For example, the third opening regions OB1 and OB2 may have asubstantially square shape, and the first and second opening regionsOR1, OR2, OG1 and OG2 may have a substantially rectangular shapesubstantially smaller than the third opening regions OB1 and OB2, butthey are not necessarily limited thereto.

A distance Lr2 between the center of gravity of the first opening regionOR1 of the third-first unit pixel region UP31 and the center of gravityof the first opening region OR2 of the third-second unit pixel regionUP32 may be greater than a distance Lr1 between the center of gravity ofthe first opening region OR1 of the third-first unit pixel region UP31and the center of gravity of the first opening region OR1 of thefourth-first unit pixel region UP41 (Lr2>Lr1).

The first opening regions OR1 and OR2 may be regularly arranged bygrouping two adjacent unit pixel regions into one group. For example, adistance between the center of gravity of the first opening region OR1of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 and the center of gravity ofthe first opening region OR1 of the first-third unit pixel region UP13may be equal to a distance between the center of gravity of the firstopening region OR1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 and thecenter of gravity of the first opening region OR1 of the third-firstunit pixel region UP31. Therefore, the first opening regions OR1 and OR2of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 to the fourth-fourth unitpixel region UP44 may be regularly arranged by grouping two adjacentunit pixel regions into one group, thereby achieving uniform imagequality.

A distance Lg2 between the center of gravity of the second openingregion OG1 of the third-third unit pixel region UP33 and the center ofgravity of the second opening region OG2 of the third-fourth unit pixelregion UP34 may be greater than a distance Lg1 between the center ofgravity of the second opening region OG1 of the third-third unit pixelregion UP33 and the center of gravity of the second opening region OG1of the fourth-third unit pixel region UP43 (Lg2>Lg1).

The second opening regions OG1 and OG2 may be regularly arranged bygrouping two adjacent unit pixel regions into one group. For example, adistance between the center of gravity of the second opening region OG1of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 and the center of gravity ofthe second opening region OG1 of the first-third unit pixel region UP13may be equal to a distance between the center of gravity of the secondopening region OG1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 and thecenter of gravity of the second opening region OG1 of the third-firstunit pixel region UP31. Therefore, the second opening regions OG1 andOG2 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 to the fourth-fourth unitpixel region UP44 may be regularly arranged by grouping two adjacentunit pixel regions into one group, thereby achieving uniform imagequality.

A distance Lb between the center of gravity of the third opening regionOB1 of the first-third unit pixel region UP13 and the center of gravityof the third opening region OB2 of the first-fourth unit pixel regionUP14 may be equal to a distance Lb between the center of gravity of thethird opening region OB1 of the first-third unit pixel region UP13 andthe center of gravity of the third opening region OB1 of thesecond-third unit pixel region UP23 (Lb=Lb). Accordingly, the thirdopening regions OB1 and OB2 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 tothe fourth-fourth unit pixel region UP44 may be disposed at uniformintervals, thereby achieving uniform image quality.

One side of the opening region OR, OG, OB of at least one sub-pixel ofthe first to third sub-pixels may cross or intersect the scan line SL ata predetermined angle. The first opening region OR and the scan line SLmay cross or intersect each other at a first angle θ1 (not horizontal orvertical), the second opening region OG and the scan line SL may crossor intersect each other at a second angle θ2, and the third openingregion OB and the scan line SL may cross or intersect each other at athird angle θ3. For example, an on-plane angle (for example, θ1, θ2 orθ3) between one side of at least one opening region of the first tothird opening regions OR, OG and OB and the scan line SL may be about 45degrees. The long sides and the short sides of the first opening regionOR and the second opening region OG may cross or intersect the scan lineSL at an angle of about 45 degrees, and one side of the third openingregion OB may cross or intersect the scan line SL at an angle of about45 degrees.

As described above, one side of the opening region OR, OG, OB of each ofthe sub-pixels and the scan line SL may cross or intersect each other ina plan view. For example, one side of the opening region OR, OG, OB ofeach of the sub-pixels may not be parallel to the scan line SL in a planview, and may not cross or intersect the scan line SL at a right anglein a plan view. Thus, the display device 10 may minimize external lightreflected at the boundary of the opening regions OR, OG and OB (forexample, between the pixel defining layer and the opening region).

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment. The unit pixel regions of FIG. 7 mayinclude first and second spacers S1 and S2 in the unit pixel regions ofFIG. 6. The same configuration as the above-described configuration willbe briefly described or omitted.

Referring to FIG. 7, each of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 tothe fourth-fourth unit pixel region UP44 may include first to thirdsub-pixels.

Each of the first sub-pixel of the first-first unit pixel region UP11and first sub-pixel of the first-third unit pixel region UP13 mayinclude the first opening region OR1, the second sub-pixel may includethe second opening region OG1, and the third sub-pixel may include thethird opening region OB1.

Each of the first sub-pixel of the first-second unit pixel region UP12and first sub-pixel of the first-fourth unit pixel region UP14 mayinclude the first opening region OR2, the second sub-pixel may includethe second opening region OG2, and the third sub-pixel may include thethird opening region OB2.

The first to third opening regions OR1, OG1 and OB1 of the first-firstunit pixel region UP11 and first to third opening regions OR2, OG2 andOB2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12 may be disposed in thesame or similar manner as the first to third opening regions OR1, OR2,OG1, OG2, OB1 and OB2 illustrated in FIG. 6.

A distance Lb2 between the center of gravity of the first opening regionOB1 of the first-third unit pixel region UP13 and the center of gravityof the first opening region OB2 of the first-fourth unit pixel regionUP14 may be greater than a distance Lb1 between the center of gravity ofthe first opening region OB1 of the first-third unit pixel region UP13and the center of gravity of the first opening region OB1 of thesecond-third unit pixel region UP23 (Lb2>Lb1).

The first-first unit pixel region UP11 may include a first spacer S1.The first spacer S1 may be disposed between the first opening region OR1and the third opening region OB1. For example, an end of the firstspacer S1 may be disposed between the first opening region OR1 and thethird opening region OB1, and another end of the first spacer S1 mayextend from one end toward the upper left side.

The long side direction of the first spacer S1 may be substantiallyperpendicular to the long side direction of the first opening region OR1or the second opening region OG1. The first spacer S1 may alleviate theshock transmitted to the first-first unit pixel region UP11 and improvethe durability of the first-first unit pixel region UP11.

The first-second unit pixel region UP12 may include a second spacer S2.The second spacer S2 may be disposed on the upper left side of thesecond opening region OG2 and the third opening region OB2. For example,an end of the second spacer S2 may be disposed on the upper left side ofthe second opening region OG2, and another end of the second spacer S2may be disposed on the upper left side of the third opening region OB2.One end of the second spacer S2 may be disposed between the secondopening region OG2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12 and thethird opening region OB1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11.

The long side direction of the second spacer S2 may be substantiallyperpendicular to the long side direction of the first opening region OR2or the second opening region OG2. The long side direction of the secondspacer S2 may be substantially perpendicular to the long side directionof the first spacer S1. The second spacer S2 may alleviate the shocktransferred to the first-second unit pixel region UP12 and improve thedurability of the first-second unit pixel region UP12.

A distance Ls between the center of gravity of the first spacer S1 ofthe second-third unit pixel region UP23 and the center of gravity of thesecond spacer S2 of the second-fourth unit pixel region UP24 may beequal to a distance Ls between the center of gravity of the first spacerS1 of the second-third unit pixel region UP23 and the center of gravityof the first spacer S1 of the third-third unit pixel region UP33(Ls=Ls). The first and second spacers S1 and S2 may be regularlyarranged by grouping two adjacent unit pixel regions into one group.Therefore, the first or second spacer S1 or S2 of each of thefirst-first unit pixel region UP11 to the fourth-fourth unit pixelregion UP44 may stably support the first-first unit pixel region UP11 tothe fourth-fourth unit pixel region UP44, thereby improving thedurability of the display device 10.

The long sides of the first and second spacers S1 and S2 may cross orintersect the scan line SL at a predetermined angle (not horizontal orvertical). The on-plane angle between the long sides of the first orsecond spacer S1 or S2 and the scan line SL may be about 45 degrees.

As described above, one side of the opening region OR, OG, OB of each ofthe unit pixel regions and the scan line SL may cross or intersect eachother in a plan view. The first or second spacer S1 or S2 of each of theunit pixel regions may cross or intersect the scan line SL in a planview. Accordingly, the first and second spacers S1 and S2 can improvethe durability and reliability of the display device 10 without reducingthe aperture ratios of the first to third opening regions OR, OG and OB.

It is to be noted that the above description includes a third directionand a fourth direction in addition to the first and second directions.For example, a side of an opening region of at least one sub-pixel ofthe sub-pixels may extend in a third direction inclined with respect toeach of the first direction and the second direction. A fourth directionmay be substantially perpendicular to the third direction.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG.7.

Referring to FIG. 8, the display panel 300 may include a first substrateSUB1, a buffer layer BF, first to third transistors T1, T2 and T3, agate insulating layer GI, an interlayer insulating layer ILD, apassivation layer PAS, first and second connection electrodes CE1 andCE2, a planarization layer OC, first and second light emitting elementsEL1 and EL2, a pixel defining layer PDL, a first spacer S1, anencapsulation layer TFE, and a second substrate SUB2.

The first substrate SUB1 may be a base substrate, and may be made of aninsulating material such as polymer resin. For example, the firstsubstrate SUB1 may be a rigid substrate. In an example, the firstsubstrate SUB1 may be a flexible substrate which may be bent, folded orrolled. In a case that the first substrate SUB1 is a flexible substrate,the first substrate SUB1 may be formed of polyimide (PI), but is notnecessarily limited thereto.

The buffer layer BF may be disposed on the first substrate SUB1. Thebuffer layer BF may be formed of an inorganic layer that may preventinfiltration of air or moisture. For example, the buffer layer BF mayinclude inorganic layers that may be alternately stacked. The bufferlayer BF may be formed of multiple layers in which one or more inorganiclayers of a silicon nitride layer, a silicon oxynitride layer, a siliconoxide layer, a titanium oxide layer and an aluminum oxide layer may bealternately stacked, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

The first transistor T1 may be disposed on the buffer layer BF and mayconstitute the pixel circuit of the first sub-pixel. For example, thefirst transistor T1 may be a driving transistor or a switchingtransistor of the first sub-pixel. The first transistor T1 may include asemiconductor layer ACT1, a gate electrode GE1, a source electrode SE1,and a drain electrode DE1.

The semiconductor layer ACT1 may be provided or disposed on the bufferlayer BF. The semiconductor layer ACT1 may overlap the gate electrodeGE1, the source electrode SE1, and the drain electrode DE1. Thesemiconductor layer ACT1 may be in direct contact with the sourceelectrode SE1 and the drain electrode DE1, and may face the gateelectrode GE1 with the gate insulating layer GI interposed therebetween.

The gate electrode GE1 may be disposed on the gate insulating layer GI.The gate electrode GE1 may overlap the semiconductor layer ACT1 with thegate insulating layer GI interposed therebetween.

The source electrode SE1 and the drain electrode DE1 may be spaced apartfrom each other on the interlayer insulating layer ILD. The sourceelectrode SE1 may be in contact with an end of the semiconductor layerACT1 through a contact hole provided or disposed in the gate insulatinglayer GI and the interlayer insulating layer ILD. The drain electrodeDE1 may be in contact with the other end of the semiconductor layer ACT1through a contact hole provided or disposed in the gate insulating layerGI and the interlayer insulating layer ILD. The drain electrode DE1 maybe electrically connected to an anode electrode AND1 of the first lightemitting element EL1 through the first connection electrode CE1.

The second transistor T2 may be disposed on the buffer layer BF and mayconstitute the pixel circuit of the second sub-pixel. For example, thesecond transistor T2 may be a driving transistor or a switchingtransistor of the second sub-pixel. The second transistor T2 may includea semiconductor layer ACT2, a gate electrode GE2, a source electrodeSE2, and a drain electrode DE2.

The third transistor T3 may be disposed on the buffer layer BF and mayconstitute the pixel circuit of the third sub-pixel. For example, thethird transistor T3 may be a driving transistor or a switchingtransistor of the third sub-pixel. The third transistor T3 may include asemiconductor layer ACT3, a gate electrode GE3, a source electrode SE3,and a drain electrode DE3. The drain electrode DE3 of the thirdtransistor T3 may be electrically connected to an anode electrode AND2of the second light emitting element EL2 through the second connectionelectrode CE2.

The gate insulating layer GI may be provided or disposed on thesemiconductor layers ACT1, ACT2 and ACT3. For example, the gateinsulating layer GI may be disposed on the semiconductor layers ACT1,ACT2 and ACT3 and the buffer layer BF, and may insulate thesemiconductor layers ACT1, ACT2 and ACT3 from the gate electrodes GE1,GE2 and GE3. The gate insulating layer GI may include contact holesthrough which the source electrodes SE1, SE2 and SE3 may pass, andcontact holes through which the drain electrodes DE1, DE2, and DE3 maypass.

The interlayer insulating layer ILD may be disposed on the gateelectrodes GE1, GE2 and GE3. For example, the interlayer insulatinglayer ILD may include contact holes through which the source electrodesSE1, SE2 and SE3 may pass, and contact holes through which the drainelectrodes DE1, DE2, and DE3 may pass through. The contact holes of theinterlayer insulating layer ILD may be electrically connected to thecontact holes of the gate insulating layer GI.

The passivation layer PAS may be provided or disposed on the first tothird transistors T1, T2 and T3 to protect the first to thirdtransistors T1, T2 and T3. For example, the passivation layer PAS mayinclude contact holes through which the first and second connectionelectrodes CE1 and CE2 may pass.

The planarization layer OC may be provided or disposed on thepassivation layer PAS to planarize the upper ends of the first to thirdtransistors T1, T2 and T3. For example, the planarization layer OC mayinclude contact holes through which the anode electrodes AND1 and AND2of the first and second light emitting elements EL1 and EL2 may pass.

The first light emitting element EL1 may be provided or disposed on thefirst transistor T1. The first light emitting element EL1 may include ananode electrode AND1, a light emitting layer E1, and a cathode electrodeCAT.

The anode electrode AND1 may be provided or disposed on theplanarization layer OC. For example, the anode electrode AND1 may bedisposed to overlap the first opening region OR defined by the pixeldefining layer PDL. The anode electrode AND1 may be electricallyconnected to the drain electrode DE1 of the first transistor T1 throughthe first connection electrode CE1.

The light emitting layer E1 may be provided or disposed on the anodeelectrode AND1. The light emitting layer E1 may include a hole injectionlayer, a hole transport layer, a light receiving layer, an electronblocking layer, an electron transport layer, an electron injectionlayer, and the like within the spirit and the scope of the disclosure.For example, the light emitting layer E1 may be an organic lightemitting layer made of an organic material, but is not necessarilylimited thereto. In a case where the light emitting layer E1 is anorganic light emitting layer, when the first transistor T1 applies apredetermined voltage to the anode electrode AND1 of the first lightemitting element EL1 and the cathode electrode CAT of the first lightemitting element EL1 receives a common voltage or a cathode voltage,each of the holes and the electrons may move to the organic lightemitting layer E1 through the hole transport layer and the electrontransport layer, and the holes and the electrons may combine with eachother in the organic light emitting layer E1 to emit light.

The cathode electrode CAT may be provided or disposed on the lightemitting layer E1. For example, the cathode electrode CAT may beimplemented as an electrode common to all of the sub-pixels SP withoutdistinction for each sub-pixel SP. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the cathodeelectrode CAT may be disposed on the light emitting layers E1 and E2 inthe opening regions OR, OG and OB, and may be disposed on the pixeldefining layer PDL or the spacers S1 and S2 in a non-opening region.

The second light emitting element EL2 may be provided or disposed on thethird transistor T3. The second light emitting element EL2 may includean anode electrode AND2, a light emitting layer E2, and a cathodeelectrode CAT.

The anode electrode AND2 may be provided or disposed on theplanarization layer OC. For example, the anode electrode AND2 may bedisposed to overlap the third opening region OB defined by the pixeldefining layer PDL. The anode electrode AND2 may be electricallyconnected to the drain electrode DE3 of the third transistor T3 throughthe second connection electrode CE2. The light emitting layer E2 may beprovided or disposed on the anode electrode AND2, and the cathodeelectrode CAT may be provided or disposed on the light emitting layerE2.

The pixel defining layer PDL may define the first to third openingregions OR, OG and OB. The pixel defining layer PDL may separate andinsulate the anode electrodes AND1 and AND2 of the first and secondlight emitting elements EL1 and EL2, respectively.

For example, the pixel defining layer PDL may include a light absorbingmaterial such as a black pigment or a black dye that may absorb light.The pixel defining layer PDL may include a light absorbing material,thereby minimizing external light reflected at the boundary of theopening region.

The first spacer S1 may be disposed on the pixel defining layer PDL. Thefirst spacer S1 may maintain a constant distance between the firstsubstrate SUB1 and the second substrate SUB2. The first spacer S1 mayalleviate the shock transmission between the first substrate SUB1 andthe second substrate SUB2. For example, the first spacer S1 may includea material having excellent shock absorbency and flexibility to improvethe durability of the display device 10.

The encapsulation layer TFE may be disposed on the cathode electrode CATto cover or overlap the first to third transistors T1, T2 and T3 and thefirst and second light emitting elements EL1 and EL2. The encapsulationlayer TFE may prevent oxygen or moisture from infiltrating into thefirst and second light emitting elements EL1 and EL2.

The second substrate SUB2 may be disposed on the encapsulation layer TFEto face the first substrate SUB1. The second substrate SUB2 may blockthe first to third transistors T1, T2 and T3 and the first and secondlight emitting elements EL1 and EL2 from external moisture, air and thelike within the spirit and the scope of the disclosure. The secondsubstrate SUB2 may be supported by the first spacer S1. For example, thesecond substrate SUB2 may be a rigid substrate. In an example, thesecond substrate SUB2 may be a flexible substrate which may be bent,folded or rolled. In a case that the second substrate SUB2 is a flexiblesubstrate, the second substrate SUB2 may be formed of polyimide (PI),but is not necessarily limited thereto.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of theunit pixel regions of FIG. 9.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the first opening region OR1, OR2 and thesecond opening region OG1, OG2 of each of the first-first unit pixelregion UP11 to the fourth-fourth unit pixel region UP44 may be disposedside by side on the lower left side of the third opening region OB1,OB2. The first opening region OR1 of the first-first unit pixel regionUP11 may be disposed on the upper left side of the second opening regionOG1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11, and the first openingregion OR2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12 may be disposed onthe lower left side of the second opening region OG2 of the first-secondunit pixel region UP12. The first to third opening regions OR, OG and OBmay be regularly arranged by grouping two adjacent unit pixel regionsinto one group.

The first opening region OR1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11may be disposed in the first-first unit pixel region UP11 to output redlight. The pixel circuit of the first sub-pixel of the first-second unitpixel region UP12 and a portion of the first opening region OR2 may bedisposed in the first-second unit pixel region UP12, another portion ofthe first opening region OR2 may overlap the first-first unit pixelregion UP11, and the remaining portion of the first opening region OR2may overlap the second-second unit pixel region UP22.

The first opening region OR1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11may include a central portion OR1 a and first to third protrusions OR1b, OR1 c and OR1 d. The first protrusion OR1 b may protrude from thecentral portion OR1 a to the upper left side. The second protrusion OR1c may protrude from the central portion OR1 a toward the third openingregion OB1. The third protrusion OR1 d may protrude from the centralportion OR1 a in a direction opposite to the second protrusion OR1 c.

The first opening region OR2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12may include a central portion OR2 a and first to third protrusions OR2b, OR2 c and OR2 d. The first protrusion OR2 b may protrude from thecentral portion OR2 a toward the lower left side. The second protrusionOR2 c may protrude from the central portion OR2 a toward the upper leftside. The third protrusion OR2 d may protrude from the central portionOR2 a in a direction opposite to the second protrusion OR2 c.

The pixel circuit of the second sub-pixel of the first-first unit pixelregion UP11 and a portion of the second opening region OG1 may bedisposed in the first-first unit pixel region UP11, and the otherportion of the second opening region OG1 may overlap the second-firstunit pixel region UP21. The second opening region OG2 of thefirst-second unit pixel region UP12 may be disposed in the first-secondunit pixel region UP12 to output green light.

The second opening region OG1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11may include a central portion OG1 a and first to third protrusions OG1b, OG1 c and OG1 d. The first protrusion OG1 b may protrude from thecentral portion OG1 a to the lower right side. The second protrusion OG1c may protrude from the central portion OG1 a toward the third openingregion OB1. The third protrusion OG1 d may protrude from the centralportion OG1 a in a direction opposite to the second protrusion OG1 c.

The second opening region OG2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12may include a central portion OG2 a and first to third protrusions OG2b, OG2 c and OG2 d. The first protrusion OG2 b may protrude from thecentral portion OG2 a toward the upper right side. The second protrusionOG2 c may protrude from the central portion OR2 a toward the upper leftside. The third protrusion OG2 d may protrude from the central portionOG2 a in a direction opposite to the second protrusion OG2 c.

The pixel circuit of the third sub-pixel of the second-first unit pixelregion UP21 and a portion of the third opening region OB may be disposedin the second-first unit pixel region UP21, another portion of the thirdopening region OB may overlap the first-first unit pixel region UP11,and the remaining portion of the third opening region OB may overlap thesecond-second unit pixel region UP22.

The third opening region OB1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11may include a central portion OB1 a and first to fourth protrusions OB1b, OB1 c, OB1 d and OB1 e. The first protrusion OB1 b may protrude fromthe central portion OB1 a toward the first and second opening regionsOR1 and OG1. The second protrusion OB1 c may protrude from the centralportion OB1 a toward the lower right side. The third protrusion OB1 dmay protrude from the central portion OB1 a in a direction opposite tothe first protrusion OB1 b. The fourth protrusion OB1 e may protrudefrom the central portion OB1 a in a direction opposite to the secondprotrusion OB1 c.

The third opening region OB2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12may include a central portion OB2 a and first to fourth protrusions OB2b, OB2 c, OB2 d and OB2 e. The first protrusion OB2 b may protrude fromthe central portion OB2 a toward the second opening region OG2. Thesecond protrusion OB2 c may protrude from the central portion OB2 atoward the lower right side. The third protrusion OB2 d may protrudefrom the central portion OB2 a in a direction opposite to the firstprotrusion OB2 b. The fourth protrusion OB2 e may protrude from thecentral portion OB2 a in a direction opposite to the second protrusionOB2 c.

As described above, the first opening region OR1 of the first-first unitpixel region UP11 may include the central portion OR1 a and the first tothird protrusions OR1 b, OR1 c and OR1 d. The second opening region OG1may include the central portion OG1 a and the first to third protrusionsOb1 b, OG1 c and OG1 d, and the third opening region OB1 may include thecentral portion OB1 a and the first to fourth protrusions OB1 b, OB1 c,OB1 d and OB1 e, thereby maximizing the aperture ratio of the unit pixelregion. A portion of at least one opening region of the opening regionsOR, OG and OB of the sub-pixel may overlap the adjacent unit pixelregion beyond the corresponding unit pixel region. Therefore, thedisplay device 10 may improve the image quality of the display device 10by maximizing an aperture ratio of the unit pixel region.

The first and second opening regions OR1 and OG1 of the first-first unitpixel region UP11 may be disposed between extension lines of both sidesof the third opening region OB1. For example, the first and secondopening regions OR1 and OG1 may be disposed side by side between theextension lines of the upper left side and the lower right side of thethird opening region OB1. The long sides of each of the first and secondopening regions OR1 and OG1 may be substantially parallel to theextension lines of the upper left side and the lower right side of thethird opening region OB1. The first protrusion OB1 b of the thirdopening region OB1 may face the second protrusion OR1 c of the firstopening region OR1 and the second protrusion OG1 c of the second openingregion OG1.

For example, the central portion OB1 a of the third opening region OB1may have a substantially square shape, and the central portions OR1 aand OG1 a of the first and second opening regions OR1 and OG1 may have asubstantially rectangular shape smaller than the central portion OB1 aof the third opening region OB1, but they are not necessarily limitedthereto.

The first-first unit pixel region UP11 may include the first and secondspacers S1 and S2. The first spacer S1 may be disposed on the upper sideof the first opening region OR1 and may be disposed on the left side ofthe third opening region OB1. The second spacer S2 may be disposed onthe right side of the second opening region OG1 and may be disposed onthe lower side of the third opening region OB1. The first and secondspacers S1 and S2 may be spaced apart from each other with the first tothird opening regions OR1, OG1 and OB1 interposed therebetween, therebystably supporting the first-first unit pixel region UP11 and improvingthe durability.

The first-second unit pixel region UP12 may include third and fourthspacers S3 and S4. The third spacer S3 may be disposed on the upper sideof the second opening region OG2 and may be disposed on the left side ofthe third opening region OB2. The fourth spacer S4 may be disposed onthe right side of the second opening region OG2 and may be disposed onthe lower side of the third opening region OB2. The third and fourthspacers S3 and S4 may be spaced apart from each other with the first tothird opening regions OR2, OG2 and OB2 interposed therebetween, therebystably supporting the first-second unit pixel region UP12 and improvingthe durability.

A distance Lr2 between the center of gravity of the first opening regionOR1 of the third-first unit pixel region UP31 and the center of gravityof the first opening region OR2 of the third-second unit pixel regionUP32 may be greater than a distance Lr1 between the center of gravity ofthe first opening region OR1 of the third-first unit pixel region UP31and the center of gravity of the first opening region OR1 of thefourth-first unit pixel region UP41 (Lr2>Lr1).

The first opening regions OR1 and OR2 may be regularly arranged bygrouping two adjacent unit pixel regions into one group. For example, adistance between the center of gravity of the first opening region OR1of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 and the center of gravity ofthe first opening region OR1 of the first-third unit pixel region UP13may be equal to a distance between the center of gravity of the firstopening region OR1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 and thecenter of gravity of the first opening region OR1 of the third-firstunit pixel region UP31. Therefore, the first opening regions OR1 and OR2of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 to the fourth-fourth unitpixel region UP44 may be regularly arranged by grouping two adjacentunit pixel regions into one group, thereby achieving uniform imagequality.

A distance Lg2 between the center of gravity of the second openingregion OG1 of the third-third unit pixel region UP33 and the center ofgravity of the second opening region OG2 of the third-fourth unit pixelregion UP34 may be greater than a distance Lg1 between the center ofgravity of the second opening region OG1 of the third-third unit pixelregion UP33 and the center of gravity of the second opening region OG1of the fourth-third unit pixel region UP43 (Lg2>Lg1).

The second opening regions OG1 and OG2 may be regularly arranged bygrouping two adjacent unit pixel regions into one group. For example, adistance between the center of gravity of the second opening region OG1of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 and the center of gravity ofthe second opening region OG1 of the first-third unit pixel region UP13may be equal to a distance between the center of gravity of the secondopening region OG1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 and thecenter of gravity of the second opening region OG1 of the third-firstunit pixel region UP31. Therefore, the second opening regions OG1 andOG2 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 to the fourth-fourth unitpixel region UP44 may be regularly arranged by grouping two adjacentunit pixel regions into one group, thereby achieving uniform imagequality.

A distance Lb between the center of gravity of the third opening regionOB1 of the first-third unit pixel region UP13 and the center of gravityof the third opening region OB2 of the first-fourth unit pixel regionUP14 may be equal to a distance Lb between the center of gravity of thethird opening region OB1 of the first-third unit pixel region UP13 andthe center of gravity of the third opening region OB1 of thesecond-third unit pixel region UP23 (Lb=Lb). Accordingly, the thirdopening regions OB1 and OB2 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 tothe fourth-fourth unit pixel region UP44 may be disposed at uniformintervals, thereby achieving uniform image quality.

A distance Ls between the center of gravity of the third spacer S3 ofthe second-second unit pixel region UP22 and the center of gravity ofthe first spacer S1 of the second-third unit pixel region UP23 may beequal to a distance Ls between the center of gravity of the third spacerS3 of the second-second unit pixel region UP22 and the center of gravityof the third spacer S3 of the third-second unit pixel region UP32(Ls=Ls). The first to fourth spacers S1, S2, S3 and S4 may be disposedat uniform intervals, thereby stably supporting the first-first unitpixel region UP11 to the fourth-fourth unit pixel region UP44 andimproving the durability of the display device 10.

One side of the opening region OR, OG, OB of at least one sub-pixel ofthe first to third sub-pixels may cross or intersect the scan line SL ata predetermined angle. The long sides of the central portions OR1 a andOR2 a of the first opening regions OR1 and OR2 may cross or intersectthe scan line SL at a predetermined angle (not horizontal or vertical).The long sides of the central portions OG1 a and OG2 a of the secondopening regions OG1 and OG2 may cross or intersect the scan line SL at apredetermined angle (not horizontal or vertical). One side of thecentral portions OB1 a and OB2 a of the third opening regions OB1 andOB2 may cross or intersect the scan line SL at a predetermined angle(not horizontal or vertical).

As described above, one side of the opening region OR, OG, OB of each ofthe sub-pixels may not be parallel to the scan line SL in a plan view,and may not cross or intersect the scan line SL at a right angle in aplan view. Thus, the display device 10 may minimize external lightreflected at the boundary of the opening regions OR, OG and OB (forexample, between the pixel defining layer and the opening region).

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of theunit pixel regions of FIG. 11. The unit pixel regions of FIGS. 11 and 12may be different from the unit pixel regions of FIG. 7 in theconfiguration of the third opening regions OB1 and OB2. The sameconfiguration as the above-described configuration will be brieflydescribed or omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the first opening region OR1, OR2 and thesecond opening region OG1, OG2 of each of the first-first unit pixelregion UP11 to the fourth-fourth unit pixel region UP44 may be disposedside by side on the lower left side of the third opening region OB1,OB2. The first opening region OR1 of the first-first unit pixel regionUP11 may be disposed on the upper left side of the second opening regionOG1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11, and the first openingregion OR2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12 may be disposed onthe lower left side of the second opening region OG2 of the first-secondunit pixel region UP12. The first to third opening regions OR, OG and OBmay be regularly arranged by grouping two adjacent unit pixel regionsinto one group.

The third opening region OB1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11may include a central portion OB1 a and a protrusion OB1 b protrudingdownward from the lower corner of the central portion OB1 a. One end ofthe protrusion OB1 b of the third opening region OB1 of the first-firstunit pixel region UP11 may face the second opening region OG1 of thefirst-first unit pixel region UP11, and the other end substantiallyperpendicular to one end of the protrusion OB1 b of the third openingregion OB1 may face the first opening region OR2 of the first-secondunit pixel region UP12.

As described above, the third opening region OB1, OB2 of each of thefirst-first unit pixel region UP11 to the fourth-fourth unit pixelregion UP44 may include the central portion OB1 a, OB2 a and theprotrusion OB1 b, OB2 b, thereby maximizing the aperture ratio of theunit pixel region.

For example, the central portion OB1 a of the third opening region OB1may have a substantially square shape, and the first and second openingregions OR1 and OG1 may have a substantially rectangular shape smallerthan the central portion OB1 a of the third opening region OB1, but theyare not necessarily limited thereto.

The first-first unit pixel region UP11 may include a first spacer S1.The first spacer S1 may be disposed between the first opening region OR1and the third opening region OB1. For example, the first spacer S1 maybe surrounded by or adjacent to the first opening region OR1, one end ofthe protrusion OB1 b of the third opening region OB1, and the leftcorner of the third opening region OB1. The first spacer S1 mayalleviate the shock transmitted to the first-first unit pixel regionUP11.

The first-second unit pixel region UP12 may include a second spacer S2.The second spacer S2 may be disposed on the upper left side of thesecond opening region OG2 and the third opening region OB2. For example,the second spacer S2 may be surrounded by or adjacent to the rightcorner of the central portion OB1 a of the third opening region OB1 ofthe first-first unit pixel region UP11, the other end of the protrusionOB1 b of the third opening region OB1 of the first-first unit pixelregion UP11, the second opening region OG2 of the first-second unitpixel region UP12, and the left corner of the central portion OB2 a ofthe third opening region OB2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12.The second spacer S2 may alleviate the shock transmitted to thefirst-second unit pixel region UP12.

FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment. The unit pixel regions of FIG. 13 maybe different from the unit pixel regions of FIG. 7 in the configurationof the third opening regions OB1 and OB2 and the first and secondspacers S1 and S2. The same configuration as the above-describedconfiguration will be briefly described or omitted.

Referring to FIG. 13, the first opening region OR1, OR2 and the secondopening region OG1, OG2 of each of the first-first unit pixel regionUP11 to the fourth-fourth unit pixel region UP44 may be disposed side byside on the lower left side of the third opening region OB1, OB2. Thefirst opening region OR1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 maybe disposed on the upper left side of the second opening region OG1 ofthe first-first unit pixel region UP11, and the first opening region OR2of the first-second unit pixel region UP12 may be disposed on the lowerleft side of the second opening region OG2 of the first-second unitpixel region UP12. The first to third opening regions OR, OG and OB maybe regularly arranged by grouping two adjacent unit pixel regions intoone group.

The third opening region OB1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11may include an end OB1 a extending toward the upper left side from thecenter of gravity and the other end OB1 b extending toward the upperright side from the center of gravity. The end OB1 a extending towardthe upper left side from the center of gravity and the other end OB1 bextending toward the upper right side from the center of gravity mayform a substantially chevron shape in a plan view. The first and secondopening regions OR1 and OG1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11may be disposed on the lower left side of one end OB1 a of the thirdopening region OB1, and the first and second opening regions OR2 and OG2of the first-second unit pixel region UP12 may be disposed on the lowerright side of the other end OB1 b of the third opening region OB1 of thefirst-first unit pixel region UP11.

As described above, the third opening region OB1, OB2 of each of thefirst-first unit pixel region UP11 to the fourth-fourth unit pixelregion UP44 may include one end OB1 a, OB2 a and the other end OB1 b,OB2 b, thereby maximizing the aperture ratio of the unit pixel region.

The second-first unit pixel region UP21 may include a first spacer S1.The first spacer S1 of the second-first unit pixel region UP21 may besurrounded by or adjacent to the second and third opening regions OG1and OB1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11, the first openingregion OR2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12, and the thirdopening region OB1 of the second-first unit pixel region UP21. The firstspacer S1 may alleviate the shock transmitted to the second-first unitpixel region UP21.

The second-second unit pixel region UP22 may include a second spacer S2.The second spacer S2 of the second-second unit pixel region UP22 may besurrounded by or adjacent to the second and third opening regions OG2and OB2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12, the first openingregion OR1 of the first-third unit pixel region UP13, and the thirdopening region OB2 of the second-second unit pixel region UP22. Thesecond spacer S2 may alleviate the shock transmitted to thesecond-second unit pixel region UP22.

It is to be understood that the arrangement of the spacers with respectto the unit pixel regions and the opening regions is not limited to theabove descriptions and illustrations. Other arrangements andconfigurations are within the spirit and the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a displaydevice according to an embodiment. FIG. 15 is a plan view illustratingunit pixel regions of a display device according to an embodiment. FIG.16 is a plan view illustrating unit pixel regions of a display deviceaccording to an embodiment. FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating unitpixel regions of a display device according to an embodiment. The unitpixel regions of FIGS. 14 to 17 may be different from the unit pixelregions of FIG. 5 in the inclination of the first to third openingregions OR, OG and OB. The same configuration as the above-describedconfiguration will be briefly described or omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 14 to 17, each of the first-first unit pixel regionUP11 to the second-second unit pixel region UP22 may include first tothird sub-pixels.

In FIG. 14, an on-plane angle θ1 between the long side of the firstopening region OR and the scan line SL may be about 30 degrees. Anon-plane angle θ2 between the long side of the second opening region OGand the scan line SL may be about 30 degrees. An on-plane angle θ3between one side of the third opening region OB and the scan line SL maybe about 30 degrees.

In FIG. 15, an on-plane angle θ1 between the long side of the firstopening region OR1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 and thescan line SL may be about 30 degrees. An on-plane angle θ2 between thelong side of the second opening region OG1 of the first-first unit pixelregion UP11 and the scan line SL may be about 30 degrees. An on-planeangle θ3 between one side of the third opening region OB1 and the scanline SL may be about 30 degrees.

An on-plane angle θ4 between the long side of the first opening regionOR2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12 and the scan line SL maybe about 60 degrees. An on-plane angle θ5 between the long side of thesecond opening region OG2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12 andthe scan line SL may be about 60 degrees.

In FIG. 16, an on-plane angle θ1 between the long side of the firstopening region OR and the scan line SL may be about 60 degrees. Anon-plane angle θ2 between the long side of the second opening region OGand the scan line SL may be about 60 degrees. An on-plane angle θ3between one side of the third opening region OB and the scan line SL maybe about 60 degrees.

In FIG. 17, an on-plane angle θ1 between the long side of the firstopening region OR1 of the first-first unit pixel region UP11 and thescan line SL may be about 60 degrees. An on-plane angle θ2 between thelong side of the second opening region OG1 of the first-first unit pixelregion UP11 and the scan line SL may be about 60 degrees. An on-planeangle θ3 between one side of the third opening region OB and the scanline SL may be about 60 degrees.

An on-plane angle θ4 between the long side of the first opening regionOR2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12 and the scan line SL maybe about 30 degrees. An on-plane angle θ5 between the long side of thesecond opening region OG2 of the first-second unit pixel region UP12 andthe scan line SL may be about 30 degrees.

In conjunction with FIGS. 5, 6 and 14 to 17, the first to third openingregions OR, OG and OB of the display device 10 may have aperture ratiosas shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 PDL Gap about 23 μm PDL Gap about 20 μm Structure 1 30.00%33.20% Structure 2 44.95% 50.50% Structure 3 44.99% 50.50% Structure 444.95% 50.50%

Here, Structure 1 represents a display device in which opening regionsmay be disposed only within the corresponding unit pixel region.Different from the display device according to the disclosure, theopening regions of Structure 1 may be configured such that a portion ofthe opening region may not overlap the adjacent unit pixel region beyondthe corresponding unit pixel region. In Structure 1, the opening regionsOR, OG and OB and the scan line SL may cross or intersect each other atan angle of about 30 degrees.

Structure 2 represents a display device in which the opening regions OR,OG and OB and the scan line SL may cross or intersect each other at anangle of about 30 degrees. For example, Structure 2 may represent thedisplay device 10 illustrated in FIG. 14 or 15.

Structure 3 represents a display device in which the opening regions OR,OG and OB and the scan line SL may cross or intersect each other at anangle of about 45 degrees. For example, Structure 3 may represent thedisplay device 10 illustrated in FIG. 5 or 6.

Structure 4 represents a display device in which the opening regions OR,OG and OB and the scan line SL may cross or intersect each other at anangle of about 60 degrees. For example, Structure 4 may represent thedisplay device 10 illustrated in FIG. 16 or 17.

Therefore, Structure 2, Structure 3 and Structure 4 according to thedisclosure may have a higher aperture ratio than Structure 1 in a casethat the gap of the pixel defining layer PDL is about 23 μm or about 20μm. Thus, the display device 10 may be configured such that a portion ofthe at least one opening region of the opening regions OR, OG and OB mayoverlap the adjacent unit pixel region beyond the corresponding unitpixel region. By maximizing the aperture ratio of the unit pixel region,the image quality of the display device 10 may be improved.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the unit pixel regions of the display device10 may have reflected light as shown in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Reflected light (nit) Structure 5 660 Structure 6 154 Structure7  78

Here, Structure 5 represents a display device in which one side of theopening regions may be disposed horizontally or vertically with respectto the scan line SL. Different from the display device according to thedisclosure, the opening regions of Structure 5 may be configured suchthat one side of the opening region may not cross or intersect the scanline SL at an angle (non-vertical or horizontal) in a plan view.

Structure 6 represents a display device in which the opening regions OR,OG and OB and the scan line SL may cross or intersect each other at anangle of about 45 degrees. For example, Structure 6 may represent thedisplay device 10 illustrated in FIG. 5 or 6.

Structure 7 represents a display device in which the opening regions OR,OG and OB and the scan line SL may cross or intersect each other at anangle of about 45 degrees, and the pixel defining layer PDL may includea light absorbing material.

Therefore, in Structure 6 of the disclosure, since the opening regionsOR, OG and OB may not cross or intersect the scan line SL at a rightangle without being parallel to the scan line SL, external lightreflected at the boundary of the opening region may be minimized. SinceStructure 7 of the disclosure may include a light absorbing material inStructure 6, it may be possible to further reduce the amount ofreflection of external light.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a display deviceaccording to an embodiment is applied to a vehicle. FIG. 19 is a diagramillustrating an example in which a display device according to anembodiment is applied to a vehicle.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the display device may be used as adisplay device 10 a applied to the dashboard of a vehicle, a displaydevice 10 b applied to the center fascia of a vehicle, and a displaydevice 10 c disposed on the rear surface of the front seat forentertainment for the rear seat of a vehicle.

The display devices 10 a, 10 b and 10 c according to the disclosure maymaximize the aperture ratio of each of the sub-pixels while minimizingthe external light L1, L2 and L3 reflected at the boundary of theopening region, thereby improving visibility and reliability.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described with referenceto embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skillin the art that various changes in form and detail may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as definedby the following claims. The embodiments should be considered in adescriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: scan lines disposedin a first direction; data lines disposed in a second directionsubstantially perpendicular to the first direction; and a plurality ofunit pixel regions adjacent to the scan lines and the data lines, eachunit pixel region including a plurality of sub-pixels, wherein a portionof an opening region of at least one of the plurality of sub-pixelsoverlaps a unit pixel region adjacent to a unit pixel regioncorresponding to the at least one of the plurality of sub-pixels, and aside of the opening region of the at least one of the plurality ofsub-pixels extends in a third direction inclined with respect to each ofthe first direction and the second direction.